The Reformation Made Easy

Having grown up as a Lutheran, I have always been interested in the Reformation, since Luther was certainly a central figure in that movement. And so I decided to purchase “The Reformation Made Easy” by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon. Does this book make the Reformation “easy?” I would say that it goes a long way to doing that, but there is so much information to digest regarding the Reformation, that this book may make the Reformation ‘easier’ to comprehend, but still not quite ‘easy.’ From Wycliffe to Hus to Luther to Tyndale to Henry the Eighth, there’s a whole lotta history in this movement called the “Reformation” (and some would prefer the term “Reformations” because of the variety of ways it played out in various places in Europe). This book tries to make sense of it all.

This book was also remarkable because of the author’s informal tone. He writes from the perspective of a Reformed Christian, and often writes about “what God was doing” in various episodes in the Reformation. Some readers will be willing to allow this author the literary license to speak in such terms, but others, both Christians and otherwise, will be put off by it, because who really knows exactly what God was up to, in any historical event outside the Bible?

And there were a few typos. It turns out that this author is on Facebook. I messaged him about the typos, and he thanked me, and told me he would fix them and then send me a new copy. Pretty cool, Dr. McMahon! It’s a brave new world.

Whatever your perspective on the Reformation, or Christianity in general, this book is an excellent short overview of the major events and personalities in this great movement of God, which is still shaping the world today.

The history of the Reformation is a demonstration of one of the greatest revolutions that has ever been accomplished in human affairs by the sovereignty of God. In many respects the history of the Reformation is distinct from that of Protestantism. In the former everything bears the mark of a reg…

Published by John Stebbe

John Stebbe is a music teacher from Indianapolis. He has taught music in public schools in and around Indy since 1987. John has a bachelor's degree in music education from Ball State University, and a master's degree in history from Butler University. John is a jazz pianist. John has played piano with various groups over the years, most recently with Jaden Street Jazz and the JoySwing big band. He was raised as a Lutheran, spent some years as a Presbyterian, and is now happy to be Lutheran again. He plays guitar at church, as well as piano now and then. He lives with his wife Diane, who is also a musician and public school music teacher.
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